The Caymans are not self-supporting in foodstuffs. The production of food crops and cattle raising are restricted by the nature of the limestone soil. Import figures for 1965-71 and particulars of the principal domestic exports are given below: Turtles No. 8,128-Dried Turtle meat only 7,432-Dried Turtle meat and turtle shell PRINCIPAL DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY QUANTITY AND VALUE 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 400 400 2,240 2,240 3,874 500 4,217 2,412 Skins. £ 120 3,415 240 3,453 2,206 The trade of the Cayman Islands is mainly with the United States and Jamaica. George Town is a port of registry with a total of 26,333 gross tons on the register at the end of 1971. During that year 303 ships arrived in the port. The islands are not served by a steamship line, but a motor vessel service is maintained between Kingston, Tampa (Florida) and all three islands. There is also more or less regular communication with Central American ports by sailing and motor vessels. Owen Roberts airfield in Grand Cayman is used by Lineas Aereas Costarricenses, S.A. and Cayman Airways Ltd. There are regular air services between Grand Cayman and Kingston, Miami and San José (Costa Rica). A 3,250 ft airstrip has been constructed in Cayman Brac and a regular service by small aircraft is in operation. A private airstrip has also been constructed on Little Cayman capable of taking light aircraft. Motorable roads connect all districts in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac; there is a motorable track in Little Cayman. In 1967 Cable and Wireless (W.I.) Ltd opened an overseas telephone link, using the Tropospheric Scatter System. The islands now have an excellent internal and overseas telephone service. This latter service has been greatly enhanced by the completion of a submarine telephone cable laid between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands which went into service in December 1971. The Government wireless stations at George Town, Grand Cayman, and Stake Bay, Cayman Brac have been closed. The Cayman Islands had an allocation of approximately J$800,000 for the period 1st April 1971 to 31st March 1972 under the 1970 Development Aid Programme. In 1969 and 1970 five primary schools were constructed from aid funds and one from local revenue; new buildings are underway at the comprehensive school; five houses and two blocks of apartments have been built to house expatriate staff; and a major road programme in the Eastern districts has made good progress. Projects started in 1971 are a new Court House and a Legislative Building. Airport improvements, new harbour facilities in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac and extensive major road works are projected for the future. In recent years 16 hotels catering for tourists have been opened on Grand Cayman and one on Cayman Brac, and improved communications have greatly increased the tourist trade. A 125-bed hotel with convention facilities is due to open in August 1972. In 1971 recurrent revenue was J$3,469,460 and expenditure was J$3,127,064 There is no income tax, companies tax, estate or excise duty. The principal source of government revenue is from import duties and the sale of postage stamps. A poll tax of J$2.00 per adult male between the ages of 18 and 60 is collected annually. An ad valorem Customs duty of 20 per cent is levied on most imported commodities, with specific duties on alcoholic liquors and tobacco. There is a preferential tariff on certain Commonwealth goods. Stamp duties are payable on receipts and specified instruments and documents. The rate varies from 3 cents on every J$100 for receipts to five per cent on conveyances. HISTORY Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were sighted by Christopher Columbus on 10th May 1503 during his last voyage to the West Indies, though the islands are shown in approximately their correct position on maps published prior to this date. The Spaniards first called the group Las Tortugas because of the large numbers of turtles they saw in the surrounding waters, but by 1530 they were generally referred to as the Caimanas or Caymanes*. The Caymans were fre • Cayman derives from a Carib word covering crocodilians in general and there is sufficient evidence that the islands were so named by the Spaniards because of the large numbers of crocodiles (almost certainly the largely-marine crocodylus acutus) they found on shore. Dampier (Voyages and Discoveries, 1676) reported many crocodiles on Grand Cayman, which he carefully distinguished from alligators he had encountered elsewhere during his travels, noting that 'both kinds are called Caymanes by the Spaniards; therefore probably they reckon them for the same'. Incorrect identification probably accounts for later reports of 'alligators' on the islands (e.g. by Dr Hirst in 1910 and by observers during a hurricane in the 1930s). According to Dampier both crocodiles and alligators were commonly used as a source of fresh meat. Slaughter by ships' crews would account for the subsequent disappearance of crocodiles from the islands, which offered only limited areas of suitable cover. Specimens of crocodylus acutus have been taken on Little Cayman at least as recently as 1939 (vide Chapman Grant, The Herpetology of the Cayman Islands, Institute of Jamaica, 1940). quently visited by Spanish, English and French ships for revictualling but none of the powers laid claim to the islands or attempted to settle them until 1670, when Jamaica was ceded to the British Crown by the Treaty of Madrid and the Caymans similarly came under British rule. They were subsequently colonised mainly from Jamaica, though some English and Scottish seamen shipwrecked on the Cuban coast also made their way to the islands, which, owing to their remoteness were for long a favourite refuge for fugitives of one kind or another. By the end of the 18th century the ruthless exploitation of turtles had so far reduced their numbers that their virtual extermination in Cayman waters became inevitable, and the Caymanians, who had few other resources, were obliged to go further afield in search of new turtling grounds. They first turned to the uninhabited cays off Cuba but by 1839 their operations had been extended to the Nicaraguan and Hondurean coasts (vide Thomas Young: Narrative of a Residence on the Mosquito Shore, During the Years 1839, 1840 and 1841). This source of supply ceased in 1967 when all permits to fish in territorial waters were withdrawn by the Nicaraguan Government. The islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were permanently settled only in 1833, when several families from Grand Cayman established themselves on Cayman Brac. They lived in isolation until 1850, when, then numbering 36, they built themselves a boat. As late as 1877 there was no administrative connection between Grand Cayman and the two lesser islands. In 1877 a Justice of the Peace was appointed in Cayman Brac but not until 1887 were any more formal links established. The islands were favourably located for trade with passing shipping in the days of sail, and Caymanians achieved a considerable reputation as builders of small schooners; but as the 19th century advanced the islands became more and more cut off from the outside world, a state of affairs which lasted effectively until the 1940s and the era of air transportation. The result was extensive emigration to Nicaragua and the settlement of the Bay Islands (at one time British but now part of Honduras) and later emigration to Florida. CONSTITUTION When Jamaica achieved independence on 6th August 1962, the office of Governor of Jamaica, and consequently also of Governor of the Cayman Islands, disappeared. The 1959 Constitution was accordingly amended by Order in Council to provide for the assumption by the Administrator of most of the powers and responsibilities formerly exercised by the Governor. In November 1971 the title "Administrator" was changed to that of "Governor" by an Order in Council made by Her Majesty The Queen. A revised constitution was introduced by the Cayman Islands (Constitution) Order 1972 which came into operation on 22nd August 1972. While the constitution requires the Governor, in general, to exercise his functions in accordance with the advice of the Executive Council, consisting of three official and four elected members, it provides for him to be responsible in his discretion for defence, external affairs, internal security, the police and certain matters relating to the public service. Provision is made for the assignment of responsibility for business or departments of the Government to Members of the Executive Council. The Legislative Assembly comprises the Governor, three official members and twelve elected members. There is provision whereby a Speaker can be appointed by the Governor if the Legislative Assembly resolve that such an appointment be made. LAND POLICY There is no restriction on alienation to non-natives. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL The Governor D. V. Watler, OBE, JP (Chief Secretary) E. E. Kirkconnell B. O. Ebanks, Jr W. W. Conolly, JP LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY President: The Governor Appointed Members: 2-3 official; 2-3 nominated Elected Members: 12 representing six electoral districts and elected triennially CIVIL ESTABLISHMENT Governor (also Registrar General): K. R. Chief Secretary: D. V. Watler, OBE, JP District Commissioner, Postmaster and Financial Secretary: V. G. Johnson, OBE Chief Agricultural Officer: (Vacant) Dental Officer: Dr G. A. Hodgins, BA, Director of Civil Aviation: J. Ellison Postmaster, Grand Cayman: Mrs H. D. E. Chief Customs Officer: C. V. Thompson, ISO READING LIST BILLMYER, J. H. S. The Cayman Islands. Geographical Review, Vol. 36, No. 1, 1946. CARR, A. The Windward Road. Robert Hale, 1957. DOUGLAS, A. J. A. The Cayman Islands, Geographical Journal, Vol. 95, No. 2, February 1940. HIRST, G. S. S. Notes on the History of the Cayman Islands. Jamaica, 1910. WILLIAMS, Neville. A History of the Cayman Islands. 1970. Cayman Islands Report for 1966-1970: HMSO London, June 1972, SBN 11 580125 1. 517 FALKLAND ISLANDS AND DEPENDENCIES T HE Falkland Islands are situated in the South Atlantic and lie some 480 miles north-east of Cape Horn. The numerous islands of which they are composed cover 4,700 square miles. The Dependencies now consist only of South Georgia, 800 miles east-south-east of the Falklands, and the South Sandwich Group, some 470 miles south-east of South Georgia. Those territories south of latitude 60° S. which were formerly part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies, namely the South Orkney Islands, the South Shetland Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula together with the sector of the Antarctic continent lying between longitudes 20° W. and 80° W. were constituted a separate territory on 3rd March 1962 under the name of the British Antarctic Territory. There are two large islands, the East and West Falklands, and numerous smaller islands. The coastline is deeply indented and affords several good anchorages. The relief, except in Lafonia, is hilly and the maximum height above sea-level is in East Falkland where Mount Usborne rises to 2,312 feet. There are no large inland waters. Peculiar to the treeless, moorland scenery are the 'stone runs', long 'rivers' of angular, quartzite boulders. The island of South Georgia in the Dependencies is a mass of high mountains which are covered with deep snow where they are not too precipitous, and the valleys between are filled with glaciers which in many cases descend to the sea. The islands are in the same latitude south as London is north but apart from hours of sunshine, which are similar, there are marked climatic differences. The main feature of the Falklands' weather is the strong winds, which occur particularly in the spring. Climatic figures for Stanley are: Mean annual temperature Mean annual wind speed Mean annual rainfall Annual maximum temperature around Annual minimum temperature around 42°F 17 knots 25 inches 70°F 22°F The Dependencies have a rigorous climate of Antarctic character. On 31st December 1971 the population, excluding the Dependencies, was 2,020, there being rather more males than females. All were of European descent and most were British. The population of the Dependencies on 31st December 1971 was 13. Stanley, the capital (population 1,074 at 1962 census), is the only town. In the Camp (the countryside other than Stanley) the largest settlement is at Goose Green on East Falkland where there are some 100 residents. There are three churches in Stanley, the Cathedral of the Anglican diocese of the Falkland Islands and Eastern South America, St Mary's Roman Catholic Church and the United Free Church. In 1971 there were 361 children receiving education. There is no secondary or higher education but arrangements exist for secondary education in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In Stanley the Government schools cater adequately for children between the ages of five and fifteen though a number stay until their sixteenth year, and in some subjects reach General Certificate of Education standard. Outside Stanley, education is carried on either in settlement schools, some of which are very small, or by itinerant teachers. A boarding school opened in 1956 at Darwin on East Falkland can accommodate 42 boarders |